Outcome of the first medicines utilization research in Africa group meeting to promote sustainable and rational medicine use in Africa.

Abstract

The second Medicines Utilization Research in Africa (MURIA) group workshop and symposium again brought researchers together from across Africa to improve their knowledge of drug utilization (DU) methodologies and exchange ideas to further progress DU research in Africa. This built on extensive activities from the first conference including workshops and multiple publications. Anti-infectives were again the principal theme for the 2016 symposium following the workshops. This included presentations regarding strategies to improve antibiotic utilization among African countries, such as point-prevalence studies, as well as potential ways to reduce self-purchasing of antibiotics. There were also presentations on antiretrovirals including renal function and the impact of policy changes. Concerns with adherence in chronic treatments as well as drug-drug interactions and their implications were also discussed. The deliberations resulted in a number of agreed activities including joint publications before the next MURIA conference in Namibia in 2017.